Latest news with #RunwayAI
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Netflix And Disney Quietly Use $545M-Backed Runway For AI Video — And It's Raising Big Questions In Hollywood
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) has begun using generative AI video tools from startup Runway AI to accelerate production and reduce visual effects costs in original content, Bloomberg reports. According to Bloomberg, the New York-based startup has raised $545 million in funding and was most recently valued at over $3 billion. Runway's AI Video Tech Draws Netflix, Lionsgate, AMC, and Disney Into Its Orbit Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed that AI is now integrated into its content production workflow, helping to generate special effects more efficiently than traditional methods allow. On an earnings call on July 17, Sarandos cited speed and cost benefits of producing visual effects, including scenes in "El Eternaut," a new Argentinian drama on the platform. Don't Miss: Be part of the breakthrough that could replace plastic as we know it— $100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. While Runway's tools were not used for the 'El Eternaut' scenes, Bloomberg says that sources close to the matter confirmed Netflix is actively experimenting with the startup's software for ongoing projects. The growing interest in Runway's generative video technology isn't limited to Netflix, Bloomberg says. Lionsgate (NYSE:LION) has inked a deal with the company to train an AI model using its library of proprietary content for future film applications. Bloomberg reports that Disney (NYSE:DIS) has tested Runway's AI tools and held exploratory talks with the startup, although it has not committed to full-scale adoption, according to statements from Disney spokespeople. AMC Networks (NASDAQ:AMCX) is also collaborating with Runway AI to visualize upcoming shows and create marketing assets before filming begins, according to Runway AI. Trending: Accredited Investors: Grab Pre-IPO Shares of the AI Company Powering Hasbro, Sephora & MGM— "As we explore the transformative potential of AI across our business, we see powerful opportunities to enhance both how we market and how we create," Stephanie Mitchko, executive vice president of global media operations and technology at AMC Networks, said in a statement. AI VFX Tools Like Runway's Gen-4 and Act-Two Are Reshaping Studio Workflows Runway's latest release, an AI motion capture model named Act-Two, works with its Gen-4 system to map human movements onto animated characters with unprecedented precision and affordability. According to Bloomberg, traditional motion capture workflows can be costly and time-intensive, while Runway's tools offer near-instant results. The startup first gained traction in 2023 after launching a model capable of turning text prompts into short video clips, spurring widespread interest in the intersection of AI and filmmaking, Bloomberg says. Runway's generative video tools are already being deployed across multiple entertainment formats. According to Bloomberg, the software was used to generate scenes in Amazon's (NASDAQ:AMZN) hit series 'House of David' and to create visuals for Madonna's concert tour and a commercial for also confirmed it struck a deal with Runway to train a proprietary AI model on the studio's intellectual property to reduce production costs and accelerate content development, Bloomberg reports. "The goal is you're making higher quality content for lower prices," Lionsgate Vice Chairman Michael Burns said at Runway's AI Film Festival in Santa Monica, California, in June. Generative AI Startups Face Competition, But Runway Leads Hollywood's Adoption Curve Runway is competing with giants like OpenAI and Google in the generative video space, but has more traction than most AI startups in Hollywood's production pipeline. According to Bloomberg, OpenAI's Sora product has yet to secure a formal partnership, despite months of talks with major studios including Disney. Runway's early traction highlights how AI is increasingly reshaping production strategies across the entertainment industry. Read Next: Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? . Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Netflix And Disney Quietly Use $545M-Backed Runway For AI Video — And It's Raising Big Questions In Hollywood originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Economic Times
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Lights, Camera, Algorithm! Runway AI Joins the Production Crew
Not that innovations tend to enter the scene under the cloak of obscurity, now come loud, Netflix and Disney are venturing into the future of film production via their considerations toward Runway AI's generative video technology. This isn't a headline-catching pivot or marketing ploy-just a wise, strategic investment for a leaner and smarter ecosystem of content productions. Instead of losing their voice over discussing how "AI is changing the entertainment industry," they have quietly placed AI tools to multiply creative capabilities behind the curtains, rather than replace human creativity. Runway AI made headlines when it revealed that Netflix had utilized generative tools for visual effects in its Argentine sci-fi series The Eternaut. One of the scenes featured in the video was of a building collapse execution performed ten times faster and at a fraction of the traditional VFX costs using Runway's AI models. The increasingly secretive Disney experiments with Runway's capabilities. Disney has its eyes set on a fast, scalable avenue for pre-visualization, editing, and rendering of high-quality content without costs ballooning, given the huge franchise portfolio and large-scale production pressures. Unlike some of the tech-first disruptors, both studios are extremely careful about getting into any kind of controversy. Their deployment of AI is consciously thought out by humans and integrated into existing workflows. But what makes the Runway AI even more enchanting, beyond generating almost-realistic videos from text or image prompts, is its expansion of the creative toolkit. With Gen 4 and Act Two, directors and editors can rapidly scratch visual ideas, animate scenes without green screen, and replace cumbersome manual steps with iterations based on a few prompts. In effect, it's equipping the filmmakers with a virtual VFX assistant that can churn out high-fidelity results in a matter of hours, as compared to the several weeks it takes today. From a business operations standpoint, this is a dream scenario. Budgets become leaner, production timelines shrink, and visual standards go up. Studios can now prototype scenes faster, test narratives more effectively, and push creative boundaries without burning capital. Importantly, this approach is not eliminating jobs—it's reallocating creative energy to higher-value tasks while AI handles the repetitive and time-consuming ones. The long-term implications for the entertainment sector are immense. Indie filmmakers now have access to tools that were once the domain of major studios. VFX can be democratized, not gatekept. Global storytelling becomes easier as AI bridges budget constraints and language barriers. For streamers trying to meet escalating content demands, this is not a luxury—it's a some in the industry express concern over copyright and synthetic content, companies like Netflix and Disney are clearly prioritizing compliance and thoughtful use. Disney's earlier lawsuits against AI image generators suggest a legal-first mindset, and both studios are moving cautiously. There's no blanket adoption—just targeted, project-specific integrations designed to test impact before ahead, expect hybrid production crews that include prompt engineers alongside cinematographers. Expect faster ideation cycles, more personalized content, and a shift toward AI literacy as a core skill in the creative economy. This is not a disruption—it's a natural evolution, one that respects tradition while optimizing for the future. Netflix and Disney's early embrace of Runway AI is a blueprint for how legacy companies can move fast without breaking things. It's pragmatic innovation: quiet, careful, and rooted in value creation. For those building the next generation of content, the message is clear—this isn't the end of creative storytelling. It's just the beginning of a more intelligent version.
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Lights, Camera, Algorithm! Runway AI Joins the Production Crew
Live Events Not that innovations tend to enter the scene under the cloak of obscurity, now come loud, Netflix and Disney are venturing into the future of film production via their considerations toward Runway AI 's generative video technology . This isn't a headline-catching pivot or marketing ploy-just a wise, strategic investment for a leaner and smarter ecosystem of content productions. Instead of losing their voice over discussing how "AI is changing the entertainment industry," they have quietly placed AI tools to multiply creative capabilities behind the curtains, rather than replace human AI made headlines when it revealed that Netflix had utilized generative tools for visual effects in its Argentine sci-fi series The Eternaut . One of the scenes featured in the video was of a building collapse execution performed ten times faster and at a fraction of the traditional VFX costs using Runway's AI increasingly secretive Disney experiments with Runway's capabilities. Disney has its eyes set on a fast, scalable avenue for pre-visualization, editing, and rendering of high-quality content without costs ballooning, given the huge franchise portfolio and large-scale production pressures. Unlike some of the tech-first disruptors, both studios are extremely careful about getting into any kind of controversy. Their deployment of AI is consciously thought out by humans and integrated into existing what makes the Runway AI even more enchanting, beyond generating almost-realistic videos from text or image prompts, is its expansion of the creative toolkit. With Gen 4 and Act Two, directors and editors can rapidly scratch visual ideas, animate scenes without green screen, and replace cumbersome manual steps with iterations based on a few prompts. In effect, it's equipping the filmmakers with a virtual VFX assistant that can churn out high-fidelity results in a matter of hours, as compared to the several weeks it takes a business operations standpoint, this is a dream scenario. Budgets become leaner, production timelines shrink, and visual standards go up. Studios can now prototype scenes faster, test narratives more effectively, and push creative boundaries without burning capital. Importantly, this approach is not eliminating jobs—it's reallocating creative energy to higher-value tasks while AI handles the repetitive and time-consuming long-term implications for the entertainment sector are immense. Indie filmmakers now have access to tools that were once the domain of major studios. VFX can be democratized, not gatekept. Global storytelling becomes easier as AI bridges budget constraints and language barriers. For streamers trying to meet escalating content demands, this is not a luxury—it's a some in the industry express concern over copyright and synthetic content, companies like Netflix and Disney are clearly prioritizing compliance and thoughtful use. Disney's earlier lawsuits against AI image generators suggest a legal-first mindset, and both studios are moving cautiously. There's no blanket adoption—just targeted, project-specific integrations designed to test impact before ahead, expect hybrid production crews that include prompt engineers alongside cinematographers. Expect faster ideation cycles, more personalized content, and a shift toward AI literacy as a core skill in the creative economy. This is not a disruption—it's a natural evolution, one that respects tradition while optimizing for the and Disney's early embrace of Runway AI is a blueprint for how legacy companies can move fast without breaking things. It's pragmatic innovation: quiet, careful, and rooted in value creation. For those building the next generation of content, the message is clear—this isn't the end of creative storytelling . It's just the beginning of a more intelligent version.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Netflix Leans on Runway AI for Rapid VFX
Netflix has been quietly plugging in Runway AI's video magic to speed up their effects work. A Bloomberg reports says CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed they've been feeding simple text prompts into Runway and getting polished clips back in minutes instead of weeks. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with NVDA. That used to take entire VFX teams weeks of a fun twist, Mark Zuckerberg once floated buying Runway for around $3 billion dollars. The deal fell through, but Netflix and Runway are still cooking up some impressive collaborations. If Netflix can crank out blockbuster?level scenes with a leaner crew, you can bet every studio will be scrambling to catch up. Next time you notice jaw?dropping effects on your favorite Netflix show, there's a good chance AI was doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Netflix Leans on Runway AI for Rapid VFX
Netflix has been quietly plugging in Runway AI's video magic to speed up their effects work. A Bloomberg reports says CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed they've been feeding simple text prompts into Runway and getting polished clips back in minutes instead of weeks. That used to take entire VFX teams weeks of a fun twist, Mark Zuckerberg once floated buying Runway for around $3 billion dollars. The deal fell through, but Netflix and Runway are still cooking up some impressive collaborations. If Netflix can crank out blockbuster?level scenes with a leaner crew, you can bet every studio will be scrambling to catch up. Next time you notice jaw?dropping effects on your favorite Netflix show, there's a good chance AI was doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
